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(NAN)The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday urged the Federal Government to adopt agriculture as a means of reviving the nation`s economy.

A communiqué released at end of its 12th annual conference in Port Harcourt said the move would create employment for youths and bring prosperity to the people.

The theme of the conference “ Economic Diversification: Agriculture As Option For A Prosperous Nigeria”.

The communiqué, was jointly signed by the President of NGE, Mrs Funke Egbemode and the Secretary, Mrs Victoria Ibanga.

It noted that agriculture had been neglected because of negative mind-sets, reliance on outdated methods and gross underfunding.

“The media has a major role to play in efforts to redirect the consciousness of Nigerians, especially the youth towards embracing modern, technology-driven agriculture,” it said.

The Guild called on the government to evolve policies that will protect local farmers against the influx of foreign agricultural products.

It also suggested that government should encourage local production to achieve food sufficiency and processing of raw materials.

According to the Guild, government should quickly recapitalize and make more functional, the Bank of Agriculture and other institutions relevant to the agricultural programmes of the country.

It said “ the formation of more farmers’ co-operative societies should be encouraged while those already in existence should be strengthened to improve on their productivity”.

The Guild lamented the decline in the quality of journalism practice and non-adherence to the ethics of the profession and called on Editors to make efforts to redress the situation in their different organisations.

The communique said that members of the Guild ratified Mrs. Egbemode as President.

The ratification of Egbemodu as President followed the vacancy created by the exit of Mr. Femi Adesina, the substantive President, who was appointed as the Senior Special Adviser (Media) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

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